Electric color ray sign



H. HARASE Novga, l193.1.

ELECTRIC COLOR HAY SIGN Filed Jan. l2'7, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l Invsnrom:

Hmz/sugo HARASE.

Nov. 3, 1931. H. HARAsE ELECTRIC COLOR RAY SIGN Filed Jan. 27, 1931 3 Sheets-'Sheet 2 INVENTORJ:

HANZABURO HARASE.

BY AT1-Y:

Nov. 3, 1931. HARASE 1,830,026

ELECTRIC coLoR RAY SIGN Filed Jan.` 27, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 {uvam-ron):

HAN zaumo HA RAse. Bv A-rwz Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC COLOR RAY SIGN Application led January 27, 1931.

This invention relates to improvements in electric luminescent and color ray signs, and its objects are to provide such luminescent signs having, with a given electric luminescent element, a greater brilliancy and color effect than has been attained heretofore in electric signs, and to provide an electric sign which is easy on the eyes, which has no glare, and which is well adapted to compel the attention of the observer.

Other objects and advantages may appear in the subjoined detail description.

The drawings exhibit a device embodying the features of this invention and show a. few modifications thereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective View of the device showing the front thereof.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the basev andA luminescent elements mounted thereon. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form, Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view of a refracting member of the device. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device with the to wall removed, showing the arrangement o the refracting elements and the luminescentelements. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the device arranged in the form of an alphabetical letter. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the electrical switch elements.

Referring in detail to the drawings, my improved device consists of a frame 11 which is mounted on a base 12, wherein may be mounted a sign-flasher switch 17 and a transformer 25, which are used to control the electric energizing current to the neon tubes 13, projecting upwardly from the base.

For the purpose of illumination, the neon tubes as shown may be used, or any common or colored electric bulbs may be used. For the purpose of refracting and diffusing the light, and to increase the brilliancy of illumination as viewed from any suitable angle, I provide the refracting tubes 14, which consist of small tubes of glass, filled or partly filled with water, clear water or colored water, in any preferred combinations of colors. The tubes may be colored and of different alternating colors, and filled with clear or colored water. Fig. 4 shows a glass tube 14, filled with water 15. A channel iron 16,

. switch is in the primary circuit. Hand ac- Serial N0. 511,508.

preferably of sheet metal supports tubes 14 at the top and bottom. 'ubes 14 are sealed after filling with the liquid. Tubes 14 are spaced from neon tubes 13, at such distance that they may be brilliantly illuminated thereby.

In the 'diagram as shown in Fig. 7, the electrical energizing elements for the illuminatlng elements are shown, and these may be disposed within the base 12, or may be with- 00 in a separate housing (not shown). A r0- i tary flasher switch 17, and an electric motor 18, are supplied with current from any suitable power line terminals 19, controlled by swltch 20. Leads 21 extend from switch 20 to electric motor'18, and leads 22 extend from switch 20 to fiasher switch 17. The asher switch is driven by motor 18 through gears 23. Primar leads 24, in circuit with contacts 29, of asher switch 20, extend to transformers 25, and secondary leads 26 extend from transformers 25 to neon tube sockets 27. The contacts 28, of asher switch 20, are arranged so that tubes 13 are electrically en ergized singly or simultaneously, the order vof energizing being, vof course variable b suitable arrangement of the fiasher switc contacts 28. It may be noted that the fiasher tuated switches may be substituted in certain cases, for the automatic control as set forth.

Inthe modified form shown in Fig. 6 the arrangement of refractin'g tubes 14 simulates the form of the alphabetical letter H. The f illuminating neon tube 13 will be connected 85 to high potential leads as in thepreferred form. In either form, to obtain the most eiiicient illuminating, blending and color effects, the illuminating neon tubes are disposed parallel with the refracting tubes 14.

Any suitable sign-flashing switch' may be considered the equivalent of switch 20.

Stencil or other advertising characters (not shown), may be placed adjacent to and at the front or rear of tubes 14. As a variation, plain or colored glass rods (not shown) may alternate with the tubes that are filled with liquid. Another variation would be to fill alternate tubes with irregular broken bits jacent to of glass of different colors as a substitute for the liquid.

The essence of my invention comprises the combination with electric luminescent and colored tubes, of refracting tubes positioned adjacent to the electric tubes, and colored and iilled with a colored liquid or filled with broken bits of colored glass whereby the luminescent rays emanating from the electric tubes, are enhanced, made more brilliant, and diffused or refracted, and whereby electric signs may be made more brilliant, more ornamental and more attention-attracting than heretofore.

The Variations set forth herein, including colored tubes, colored water, clear water, and broken bits of glass for the tube filler, may all be considered as practical equivalents in refracting the light, and in making the sign ornamental.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a plurality of differently colored and intermittently energized electric illuminating elements, of a plurality of light-refracting tubes disposed adtie illuminating elements, and a liquid content in each light-refracting tube, certain of the liquid contents being clear and others of diierent colors.

2. The combination with a base and a supportin frame, of a plurality of diferently colore and intermittently energized electric illuminating elements supported by the base and within the frame, and a lurality of liquid-filled light-refracting tu es disposed in the frame and adjacent to the illuminating elements.

3. The combination with a plurality of differently-colored and intermittently energized electric illuminating elements, of a plurality of clear-colored and differently colored glass tubes disposed in front of and adjacent to the electric illuminating elements, the clear glass tubes alternating with the colored tubes, and differenti -colored light-retreating elements dispose in the glass tubes.

4. The combination with liquid-lled and differently colored glass tubes for refracting light rays, of a plurality of differently-colored and intermittently energized electric luminescent tubes disposed adjacent to the refracting tubes.

5. The combination with liquid-filled and differently colored glass tubes for refracting light rays, of a plurality of differently colored and intermittently energized electric luminescent tubes disposed adjacent tol and extending parallel with the refracting tubes.

6. The combination with liquid-filled and diiierently colored glass tubes for refracting light rays, of a plurality of luminous tubes disposed adjacent to and extending parallel with the refracting tubes, and means for causing illumination of the luminous tubes geparately for producing different color etects.

7. The combination with liquid-filled and differently colored glass tubes for refracting light rays, of a plurality of luminous tubes dis osed adjacent to and extending parallel wit the refracting tubes, means within said tubes for emitting various colors and tints, and means for causing illumination of the luminous tubes separately for producing different color effects.

8. The combination with liquid-filled and diierently colored glass tubes disposed vertically for refracting light rays, of a plurality of luminous tubes disposed adjacent to and extending parallel with the refracting tubes, and means for energizing the luminous tubes separately and intermittently.

9. The combination with transparent tubes for refracting light rays, and means within the refracting tubes for emitting different colors and tints, of different colored glass bars alternating with the refracting tubes, and a plurality of diferent colored luminous tubes disposed adjacent to and extending parallel with the refracting tubes and bars.

l0. The combination with plain colored glass bars for refracting light rays, and different colored glass bars alternatinl with the plain colored bars, of a plurality o different colored luminous tubes disposed adjacent to and extending parallel with the glass bars, and means for energizing the luminous tubes.

1l. In an electric luminescent sign, the combination with a frame, a base supporting the frame, a plurality of sockets disposed in the base, neon tubes mounted in the sockets and extending upwardly in the frame, and a plurality of refracting' tubes within the fr ame and adjacent to the neon tubes, of electric transformers adjacent to the neon sockets, high potential conductors leading from the transformers to the neon sockets, a r0- tary flasher switch adjacent to the transformers, leads extending from the flasher switch to the transformers, an electric motor actuating the rotary asher switch, a control switch, primary leads extending from the control switch to the motor and flasher switch, and gears arranged whereby the motor actuates the ilasher switch.

'12. In an electric sign, the combination with neon tubes, of a frame enclosing the neon tubes, and a plurality of light refracting tubes disposed adjacent to the neon tubes` the light refracting tubes being supported by the ttlrme and in parallel relation to said neon u es.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my iiolI 

